EPN Industrial Automation Blog

Automation platforms

Today, control units for industrial automation need to be modular in order to keep cost and integration effort at a reasonable level. Since many of those applications require components (i.e software and hardware) from different vendors, certification and licensing issues arise. Bundles or system platforms may ease those pains.

SPS/IPC/DRIVES 2011: IO-Link conformance

A manufacturer’s declaration is asked by the IO-Link Consortium for all IO-Link Masters and Devices in order to get IO-Link conformity. Therefore, test equipment is neccessary which allows checking all relevant parameters. A major part is EMC conformity.

Free access to field devices

Specialists in fieldbus technologies don’t usually give anything away for free, neither as in free beer nor as in free speech, to quote Richard Stallman. Since manufacturers often even charge extra for supplying the (standard) software driver necessary to operate the devices they sell, any exception of that policy is remarkable.

Wires out of automation

There are various obstacles for a stronger perpetration of wireless networks in the process industry. Since RF communication would simplify life in many ways, there are efforts being made to overcome them. While a mesh architecture is a good way to get optimum coverage, common solutions are difficult to integrate in automation infrastructures.

Fast memory for Profibus

Many fieldbus systems originate in the last century, including the installed hardware basis. Slowly, the architectures are being enhanced to make use of modern technologies. As an example, PCI Express allows for transparent implementation of different interface techniques, including Profibus.

CANopen and IEC 61499

Following a comprehensive search for advising industry experts, the nonprofit CAN in Automation (CiA) group has established the CANopen SIG (Special Interest Group) »IEC 61499«. The group’s scope is the development of a framework specification for CANopen-based systems using an IEC 61499 compliant programming environment.

From Bus to Bus

In most cases traditional fieldbuses have been replaced by Ethernet-based solutions or demoted to inferior tasks. This could result in systems with three different Ethernet protocols and various subordinate fieldbuses. Modern automation components need to take care of those issues.

Death of the living dead

Fieldbuses have been dead for a few years now even though not everyone in the industry noticed that. Everything’s Ethernet now and even the toughest defenders of the old ways have to admit now that the Fieldbus times are over.

Cooperation for miniaturization

Even in factory and process automation, systems have to become smaller in order to meet the demands of today’s field infrastructure. A recently announced co-operation among two Swiss/German companies is supposed to provide an impulse for miniaturized field devices.

Profinet now safe

Developing safety-oriented technology is rather cost-intensive and carries a high investment risk which was the reason that companies from the automation industry hesitated for a long time